Mercury, lead, BPA — it seems like there's a toxin everywhere you turn. Deep breaths: Taking care of yourself and your family is not overwhelming anymore, thanks to these top experts.

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Focus On This

Focus On This

"People are naturally more concerned about chemicals today than they were decades ago: There are more toxicants, or man-made chemicals, in the world now. But the truth is, everything is a chemical — even the sugars in apples — and anything can be poisonous in a large enough dose. Scientists are generally concerned about the toxins people are exposed to over and over and those that have a long half-life (the amount of time it takes half the chemical to leave your body). PCBs, for example, were once used in electrical equipment, and they had a very long half-life — it could take years for the body to get rid of them. So I encourage friends to check reputable sources, like the Centers for Disease Control, to separate the toxicants that are real dangers from the ones that are just chemicals." —Jennifer Lowry, M.D., section chief for clinical toxicology at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and chair for the council on environmental health for the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Your Fillings Are Probably Fine

Your Fillings Are Probably Fine

"I get asked about silver fillings at least once a week. It seems to pop up every time someone reads something worrisome about mercury. See, silver fillings are about 50 percent elemental mercury. They were first used in the 1800s, but it wasn't until the early 1980s that we realized that traces of mercury could be released when you chew. It scared people, since large doses of elemental mercury can damage the nervous system. But when we look at the data today, we realize that the risk was grossly overestimated. So we still use silver fillings, although much less frequently. They're great for cavities that run below the gum line, for instance, since silver is more tolerant of moisture. I have some silver fillings in my own mouth, and I assure folks that I won't have them replaced anytime soon. There's just no hard evidence that mercury in fillings puts any of us at risk." —Mark Wolff, Ph.D., D.D.S., professor and chair of the department of cariology and comprehensive care at New York University College of Dentistry

Focus On This

"People are naturally more concerned about chemicals today than they were decades ago: There are more toxicants, or man-made chemicals, in the world now. But the truth is, everything is a chemical — even the sugars in apples — and anything can be poisonous in a large enough dose. Scientists are generally concerned about the toxins people are exposed to over and over and those that have a long half-life (the amount of time it takes half the chemical to leave your body). PCBs, for example, were once used in electrical equipment, and they had a very long half-life — it could take years for the body to get rid of them. So I encourage friends to check reputable sources, like the Centers for Disease Control, to separate the toxicants that are real dangers from the ones that are just chemicals." —Jennifer Lowry, M.D., section chief for clinical toxicology at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and chair for the council on environmental health for the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Your Fillings Are Probably Fine

"I get asked about silver fillings at least once a week. It seems to pop up every time someone reads something worrisome about mercury. See, silver fillings are about 50 percent elemental mercury. They were first used in the 1800s, but it wasn't until the early 1980s that we realized that traces of mercury could be released when you chew. It scared people, since large doses of elemental mercury can damage the nervous system. But when we look at the data today, we realize that the risk was grossly overestimated. So we still use silver fillings, although much less frequently. They're great for cavities that run below the gum line, for instance, since silver is more tolerant of moisture. I have some silver fillings in my own mouth, and I assure folks that I won't have them replaced anytime soon. There's just no hard evidence that mercury in fillings puts any of us at risk." —Mark Wolff, Ph.D., D.D.S., professor and chair of the department of cariology and comprehensive care at New York University College of Dentistry

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Sometimes You Need to Use a Pesticide

"A lot of people are afraid of pesticides. They've been linked to everything from infertility to problems with the nervous system. But some are only dangerous to pests, so I always tell friends that you have to weigh the risk. There's one called permethrin that's used to treat lice or scabies, for example — it's perfectly safe on the skin. I have my home in Arizona sprayed with a similar pesticide that's toxic to scorpions. And then there's DEET: It's effective, and safe when used as directed, so you can bet my family wears bug spray. You have to decide what you're comfortable with, and if you're shopping for a pesticide, check the label for the word caution, warning, or danger — that's how the EPA ranks their risk, from low to high." —Michelle Ruha, M.D.

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Fresh Is Best

"I tell everyone to buy fruits and veggies from the farmers' market. It's not just BPA you have to worry about; other chemicals are found in canned and frozen goods, including diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which makes plastic soft and flexible. You've probably heard of phthalates: Like BPA, they're endocrine disruptors, which interfere with hormones and increase the risk of birth defects and developmental disorders. During manufacturing, processed foods often go through plastic tubing, and it's possible that DEHP is in packaging, too — we're not sure yet. (We do know that when people are fasting, their DEHP levels go down.) You won't see trace amounts of phthalates or BPA on labels, so I prefer to buy food as close to the source as possible." —Shanna Swan, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for research and mentoring in the department of preventive medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City

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Find Out What's In Your Water

"Just today a former student emailed me to ask whether she should be concerned about lead in her water, since she lives in an older home. I explained that water can eat away at your plumbing, so utility companies practice corrosion control: They adjust the water's chemistry so it's less likely to leach metals like copper or lead out of the pipes. In the case of Flint, MI, the city switched to more corrosive water, but didn't take the proper steps to keep residents safe. I've had so many friends reach out after Flint, and I always tell them to read their water quality report. Utilities are required to send it to homeowners every year, and it'll tell you if any contaminants, like heavy metals, arsenic, or nitrates, are unusually high. If my community's report showed any irregularities, I wouldn't hesitate to call the utility and, if necessary, the state. And if you're concerned about old plumbing, let the water run for a few minutes in the morning. Wait until it feels cold: That tells you it's fresh, not the water that sat in your old pipes overnight." —Charlotte Smith, Ph.D., faculty lecturer in environmental health sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health

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Beware the Cleaning Cocktail

"I see people in my practice who have breathed in chemicals while cleaning. Sometimes they've actually mixed products, and you have to be really careful not to do that, because some chemical combos create poisonous gases. Bleach and ammonia is a common one; it makes chloramine gas, which can cause serious respiratory problems when inhaled. Poison control centers get thousands of calls about chloramine each year. Don't be one of them!" —Michelle Ruha, M.D., director of the medical toxicology fellowship program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix and chair of the public affairs committee for the American College of Medical Toxicology

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Lead Is In More Places Than You Think

"After Flint, one of my friends looked at me and asked, 'How is this still a problem?' I told her that lead poisoning never really went away, it's just less common from water. Most people come in contact with lead in an old home, either from paint or the soil. And it's not only damaging to the brain—the body may also use it in place of calcium or iron in the bones, for instance. So if you're renovating a fixer-upper, it's really important to do it safely. Make sure your contractor is lead certified, or if you're doing the work yourself, read up on how to handle lead-based paint. Even if you only needed to paint over it, wipe down your baseboards and floors frequently to remove any residual dust and chips. As for soil, there used to be lead in gasoline, and the exhaust settled into the dirt. I always tell people to lay sod on bare soil to act as a barrier, and to plant their garden in a raised bed, bringing in fresh dirt for vegetables. If you're concerned, contact your county health department for a lead test kit." —Jennifer Lowry, M.D.